ARCHITECHTURE
Close Up on Clips
A SEEMINGLY SIMPLE ADD ON IS ANYTHING BUT… EYECARE BUSINESS’ NEW SERIES ON THE DETAILS THAT ENHANCE EYEWEAR DESIGN BEGINS WITH A LOOK AT THE ANYTHING-BUT-COMMON CLIP
BY AMY SPIEZIO
The clip is in turn sleek and chunky, geek and chic. Ranging in options from custom design to mass appeal, these sunglass stand-ins offer an affordable extra that blends high and low tech.
While the clip has been around for decades, its big fashion flash started for Arnold De’Burdo, president and founder of Custom Eyes—a custom clip manufacturer in California—with Oliver Peoples 506 style. “Back in the ’80s, I worked for Tuckerman Optical. I saw the clip and thought it was the coolest thing ever,” says De’Burdo.
“Clips remain an excellent source of extra income for every practice,” notes Van Rue, vice president at Single Vision Express Optical Lab in Seattle, WA. But to have true success with clips, it’s important to understand the technology that makes these little sun shades special.
FORMING ATTACHMENTS
For a simple product, there are a lot of ways to make a sun clip, and the end product can fulfill many patient needs. Consider the options:
GRIPS & CLAWS: The four-prong style that flexes at the bridge and attaches at the corners or the bridge clamp style that pinches to the center of the eyewear are two traditional clip styles.
The prong style can be easy to use and stable. “It’s super easy to put on, just expand it, flip it over your frame, and you’re ready to go,” says Dave Dean, vice president of marketing for Live Eyewear. If fitted correctly, these clips are stable for any number of activities.
“It’s important for the clip to be stable. Once it’s on, you want to make sure they are on,” De’Burdo says. “I travel on a motorcycle every day from Hollywood to Glendale, and I want to make sure everything stays on. That’s why I love hooks. It’s measured to fit where it’s supposed to be—hooks on top and bottom are balance points where it has to grip down to the millimeter.”
Fitting these properly can ensure their stability, De’Burdo notes: “If the hook that goes to the bottom moves too high, it won’t stay on because the clip rises upward. Too low on the bottom, then wearers can’t take them on and off easily.”
In addition, he notes, “It’s very important not to make the hooks too long so they are not in their view. From time to time we get requests that patients would like the hooks in a certain place. I will advise them if the hooks will not work for the best.”
MAGNETS: Ease of use and aesthetics are a compelling pitch for magnetic clips. “Our clip-on sun lenses are all polarized and attached by magnet to the metal on the pad arm,” says Cherilou Isip, brand manager for Magic Clip Eyewear at Viva. “[They] provide a sleeker look because the magnets are not visible, and the placement allows the clip-on to be easily removed and adjusted.”
“The main difference between magnetic clips and standard [ones] is just how easy it is to transform your eyeglasses into a sunglass with one hand,” says Bernard Pedoussaut, senior executive with Aspex.
The clips-ons’ rare earth neodymium magnets, Pedoussaut says, are custom placed during the design process for each frame for maximum security and aesthetics. “We can place the actual magnets where they fit best on the frame—sometimes on the top, bottom, or endpiece.”
| Selling Tips |
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OPTICIANS ARE THE BEST“I believe that our clips are sold by the opticians selling the eyewear. If the optician doesn’t say we have these available, the patient will never know. The best P.O.P. is the optician.” —Arnold De’Burdo, Custom Eyes PRE-SELECT CLIPS“When [clients] come in to pick up their new frames—even if they didn’t talk about clips yet—if they didn’t order sunglasses, pre-select a clip that fits that frame and put it in the tray. Then bring out the frame and have the clip ready to present when fitting. Then the patients don’t have to wait as the optician hunts for the clip.” —Dave Dean, vice president of marketing, Live Eyewear KEEP THEM SEPARATED“The key for dispensers to sell clips is to feature the clip separate from the frame. If you present the clip with it, it looks like the sunglass. Display it nearby and then it feels like you’re getting a two-for-one.” —Bernard Pedoussaut, senior executive, Aspex |
CLIPS, CLIPS, CLIPS!
No. 1 CLARITI EYEWEAR AirMag style 6410 is paired with polarized magnetic clip-ons.
No. 1 Snapping on at the corners, magnetic clips in TR-90 are lighweight and flexible
No. 2 OLIVER PEOPLES Gregory Peck style with flip clip was inspired by the frame worn by Peck in “To Kill A Mockingbird.”
No. 2 A reference to early designs makes these flip-up clips eternally cool
No. 3 CHEMESTRIE Chemistrie Magnetic Lens Layering System clips are attached using micro magnets in the lenses.
No. 3 Magnets set in the lens make for a seamless frame front.
No. 4 KENMARK Penguin style Teter has an updated retro style.
No. 4 Classic clips grip at the corners of eyewear and sit securely
No. 5 SAFILO Dior style BT 179 sunglass with clip styling illustrates that the look is fashionable.
No. 5
No. 6 VIVA INTERNATIONAL Magic Clip style M416 is a pretty, femine choice.
No. 6
No. 7 ASPEX EasyClip style EC322 offers a clip that doesn’t hide details.
No. 7
No. 8 CUSTOM EYES A one-of-a-kind clip for a Barton Perreira style.
No. 8 Completely custom clips can be created in any color or style
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